It appeared odd people, while they were able to walk air with ease, usually moved ground ordinary way There were no stairs in their houses, because need them, but on level surface they generally walked just do

The little party of strangers now followed the Prince across few more glass bridges and along several paths until they came to garden enclosed by high hedge Jim had refused to leave the field of grass, where engaged in busily eating; so the Wizard got buggy and joined Zeb and Dorothy, kitten followed demurely at their heels

Inside the hedge they came upon row after row of large and handsome plants with broad leaves gracefully curving until their points nearly reached the ground center of each plant grew daintily dressed Mangaboo, clothing of all these creatures grew upon them and was attached bodies

The growing Mangaboos were of all sizes, blossom that had just turned into wee baby full-grown and almost ripe man or woman On bushes seen bud, blossom, baby, half-grown person and ripe one; but even those ready to pluck were motionless and silent, devoid of life This sight explained to Dorothy why she had seen no children Mangaboos, thing she had until now been unable to account for

"Our people acquire their real life until they leave their bushes," said the Prince " notice all attached plants soles feet, and are quite ripe easily separated stems and at once attain the powers of motion and speech So while they grow said to really live, and picked can become good citizens "

"How long live, after picked ? " asked Dorothy

"That depends care we take of ourselves," he replied " keep cool and moist, and meet with no accidents, we often live for five years I've been picked over six years, but our family is known especially long lived "

" eat ? " asked the boy

"Eat ! No, indeed quite solid inside our bodies, no need to eat, any more than does potato "

"But the potatoes sometimes sprout," said Zeb

"And sometimes ," answered the Prince; "but considered great misfortune, for then planted at once "

"Where did you grow ? " asked the Wizard

" show you," reply "Step , please "

He led them within another but smaller circle of hedge, where grew one large and beautiful bush

"This," said he, " Royal Bush Mangaboos All Princes and Rulers have grown one bush immemorial "

They stood before it in silent admiration central stalk stood poised the figure of girl so exquisitely formed and colored and so lovely expression of her delicate features that Dorothy thought she had never seen so sweet and adorable creature in all her life The maiden's gown was soft as satin and fell about her in ample folds, while dainty lace-like traceries trimmed the bodice and sleeves Her flesh was fine and smooth as polished ivory, and her poise expressed both dignity and grace

"Who ? " asked the Wizard, curiously

The Prince staring hard girl bush Now he answered, with touch of uneasiness cold tones:

" the Ruler destined my successor, for Royal Princess When she becomes fully ripe abandon the sovereignty Mangaboos to her "

"Isn't she ripe now ? " asked Dorothy

He hesitated

"Not quite," said he, finally " before she needs picked, or my judgment in no hurry to resign my office and be planted, "

"Probably not," declared the Wizard, nodding

" unpleasant things about our vegetable lives," continued the Prince, with sigh, "that while full prime give way to another, and be covered up ground to sprout and grow and give birth to other people "

"I'm sure the Princess is ready picked," asserted Dorothy, gazing hard beautiful girl bush "She's as perfect as be "

"Never mind," answered the Prince, hastily, "she all right longer, and best to rule until dispose of you strangers, come to our land uninvited and attended to at once "

" you going ? " asked Zeb

" matter quite decided upon," reply " keep this Wizard until new Sorcerer is ready to pick, for he seems quite skillful and of use But the rest of destroyed in some way, and be planted, because wish horses and cats and meat people growing all over our country "

"You needn't worry," said Dorothy "We wouldn't grow under ground, I'm sure "

"But why destroy my friends ? " asked the little Wizard " let them live ? "

" belong here," returned the Prince " no right inside the earth at all "

"We didn't ask down here; we fell," said Dorothy

" no excuse," declared the Prince, coldly

The children looked at in perplexity, Wizard sighed Eureka rubbed her paw on her face and said in her soft, purring voice:

"He won't need to destroy ME, for if I don't get something to eat pretty soon starve to death, and so save him the trouble "

"If he planted you, he might grow some cat-tails," suggested the Wizard

"Oh, Eureka ! perhaps find you some milk-weeds to eat," said the boy

"Phoo ! " snarled the kitten; "I wouldn't touch the nasty things ! "

"You don't need milk, Eureka," remarked Dorothy; " big enough now to eat any kind of food "

"If get it," added Eureka

"I'm hungry myself," said Zeb "But I noticed some strawberries growing in gardens, and some melons in another place These people don't eat such things, so perhaps way back get them "

"Never mind your hunger," interrupted the Prince " order you destroyed , so no need to ruin our pretty melon vines and berry bushes Follow me, please, to meet your doom "

5 Dorothy Picks the Princess

The words cold and moist vegetable Prince very comforting, and as he spoke them he turned away and left the enclosure The children, feeling sad and despondent, were about him Wizard touched Dorothy softly on her shoulder

"Wait ! " he whispered

"What for ? " asked the girl

"Suppose we pick the Royal Princess," said the Wizard "I'm she's ripe, and she comes to life she the Ruler, and may treat us better than that heartless Prince intends to "

"All right ! " exclaimed Dorothy, eagerly "Let's pick her while the chance, man star comes back "

So together they leaned over the great bush and each seized one hand lovely Princess

"Pull ! " cried Dorothy, and so the royal lady leaned toward them stems snapped and separated from her feet She was not at all heavy, so the Wizard and Dorothy managed to lift her gently ground

The beautiful creature passed her hands over her eyes an instant, tucked in stray lock of hair that had become disarranged, and after look around the garden made those present gracious bow and said, in sweet but even toned voice:

" "

"We salute your Royal Highness ! " cried the Wizard, kneeling and kissing her hand

Just then the voice Prince was heard calling upon them to hasten, and moment later he returned enclosure, followed by number people

Instantly the Princess turned and faced him, and when that she was picked the Prince stood still and began to tremble

"Sir," said the Royal Lady, with much dignity, " wronged me greatly, and wronged me still more these strangers come to my rescue ready for picking all the past week, but because you were selfish and desired your unlawful rule, you left me to stand silent upon my bush "

" know that you were ripe," answered the Prince, in low voice

" the Star of Royalty ! " she commanded

Slowly the shining star own brow and placed it upon that Princess Then all the people bowed low to her, Prince turned and walked away alone What became of him afterward our friends never knew

The people of Mangaboo now formed themselves into procession and marched toward the glass city to escort their new ruler to her palace and to perform those ceremonies proper occasion But while the people procession walked ground the Princess walked air just above their heads, to show that she was superior being and more exalted than her subjects

No one now seemed any attention strangers, so Dorothy and Zeb Wizard let the train pass on and then wandered vegetable gardens bother to cross the bridges over the brooks, but came to stream they stepped high and walked air other side very interesting experience , and Dorothy said:

"I wonder why it walk so easily air "